Pensions were first granted to widows and minor children whose husbands or fathers had died in the service and to veterans who were disabled. Pensions based on 60 days of service were first granted to veterans or unremarried widows in 1887.

Indexes

Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926

Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926.(NARA T317). (FHL films 0537000–13) Alphabetically arranged and includes the veteran’s name, rank, and unit; names of dependents; date of filing and application; certificate numbers; act filed under; and state from which application was made.

Troxel, Navena Hembree, and Susan Merrill Warner. Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1886–1926. 13 Volumes. Plano, Texas: N. H. Troxel and S. M. Warner, 1983–92. (FHL book 973 M2mw) Entries list either the name of the veteran or widow’s application number or both, state or country, unit served, date of application, and residence at the time of application.

White, Virgil D. Index to Mexican War Pension Files. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1989. (FHL book 973 M22mw) Entries include the name of the veteran and widow, certificate number, date of application, and unit served.

Wolfe, Barbara Schull. An Index to Mexican War Pension Applications. Indianapolis, Indiana: Heritage House, 1985. (FHL book 973 M22w) Entries include the name, state where the veteran was living at the time of application, date of application, and application or certificate number.

Microfilm versions of the pension index are available at the Family History Library. This index is an alphabetical list of the names of the soldiers who received pensions during the years 1887-1926 for their service in the Mexian War. The index may contain:

Name

Name and class of dependent (widow, orphans,etc.)

Rank

State from which he served

Date of pension application

Old War Index to Pension Files, 1815-1926

The "Old War Index to Pension Files, 1815-1926" (NARA T316) also includes pensioners of the Mexican War. The records are available online. They relate mainly to pensions based on death or disability incurred in service and cover regular army, navy and volunteer soldiers.